Queen of the Desert

2015

US

2h 8min

Directed by: Werner Herzog

Cast: Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Robert Pattinson, Damian Lewis

Gertrude Bell (Kidman) was an archaeologist, linguist and spy who helped shape the modern-day Middle East, and a worthy subject for a Herzog film; inexplicably, he's decided to frame her achievements inside a rather schmaltzy romantic adventure, like Hallmark remaking Lawrence of Arabia. Beautifully shot but with leaden storytelling.

Performance times

Reviews & features

Berlinale 2015: Werner Herzog and Nicole Kidman tell the story of Gertrude Bell

From Fitzcarraldo to Rescue Dawn, Werner Herzog is no stranger to exploring inhospitable lands in his films. So it makes sense that he should be drawn to the story of the indefatigable Englishwoman Gertrude Bell for his latest feature Queen of the…